It's just a hop, skip and a jump over to Jerry's place. (about 45 mins) I remember reading in the bulletin that they were having a Valentine's Day party. I remember making a mental note to be there. I forgot.

Today, I had a doctor's appointment and was planning on heading on up to see Jerry afterwards. I arrived about 1:30. The party was over at 1:30. Oops! When I headed on down the hall, the accountant waved and said, "he's in the dining room." I waved back to her and made a turn to the left into the dining room. There were pink and red balloons attached to each chair and Jerry was sitting at a table with a crown on his head. He and Sarah Sue were the king and queen! Oops, again!

Thank heavens the entertainment was still singing and playing and Jerry caught a glimpse of me in his eye. I went over to his table but by the time I got there, his eye had gone elsewhere. I curved right on around to his left side and sat next to him. He wasn't sure what to do, but his arm gently patted my shoulder, as if to say, ......"I know you"....or "I like you".....or something like that.

A minute later, Sarah Sue came over to see me. She was queen and she was waiting for her escort (Jerry) to walk her back to her room. Sarah Sue, another resident and Jerry's neighbor, is a stately southern woman with a down deep southern drawl. She is very proper. She is in her own world and takes care of Jerry. She speaks quite fluently and tells me how it makes her heart pitter patter when she sees us together. She tells me how much he ate and how sweet he is and if they are taking care of him and if he's walked or not walked down the hall. She takes on the caregiver roll and tells me all the secrets at the facility. (Really, they are her own made up secrets...but I'll never correct her on that. )

Something has happened in the last six months. Jerry has "gone away". He is not here anymore, even though he still taps me on the shoulder. Honestly, he probably taps everyone on the shoulder who comes to give him a hug. That's just the way he is. But, as for me? I'm another someone who loves him and who he loves back. He loves them all and I'm no different. It's ok though. He's moved on. I've accepted it. It's taken 15 years to get to this place. He's still my first love and my beloved Jerry and there will be no other like him, whether he knows me or not. He's in a good place. He's at peace. I'm at peace knowing that.